Chrysalis

I’m so .... So hungry!

Perched here on the roof of the cavern, my claws dug into the cold rock there is only one thought in my mind.

Food!

All the delicious things I was able to eat in my previous life are spinning through my mind, chocolate, cake, steaks, bread, yes even bread! I haven’t eaten anything for two days now, the hunger is making my mind play tricks on me. The last time I saw a Croca-beast I swore it looked like a cow and nearly leaped at it from the ceiling!

The centipedes are looking and more like a tangle of noodles. I have to solve this situation before I get myself killed chomping on something I shouldn’t.

Two days. I have been planning for two. Whole. Days.

I have studied every aspect of this end of the cavern in excruciating detail. I’ve spent so long hanging upside down over the water basin that I nearly feel asleep and dropped into the water. That would be a swim I wouldn’t enjoy...

A welcome side effect of spending all my time this way has been my sneak has levelled up to four! Thanks to spending my downtime digging away at my hiding place my digging has also reached level three.

Mua HAHAHAHAHAHAHA!

I prepare, I grow, I hunger!

Sigh.

I know, these skills are pretty much useless, ok? I know. I’ll take anything I get at this stage. Hopefully, soon I’ll be able to conquer my first prey.

My antennae twitch suddenly. The target is close, I can smell them. Concentrating hard I try to focus my eyes, I’m currently positioned away from pool in a very dark area of the cavern, the snaking light veins along the walls are far apart here, allowing deep shadows to exist.

My chosen prey has been using the wall on this side of the cavern as a resting place, crawling down to the floor and over to the pool once each day to drink.

that I think I can defeat. So rare! This creature is so

Wait, I see it!

see clearly enough to identify exactly where so I couldn’t tell when it started moving but I have it now, this is the time

stealthy I scramble towards the darkness above the

I

on

spines protruding from its back look so solid, as if made of stone. Man, I bet it would sting

can’t start thinking negative now, my stomach is counting on

the hunter, the eagle, the tiger! I have to wait for my moment

Now!

target. The liquid falls through the air

target practice over the last few days

turn and find the attacker but I’m already moving, racing down the wall behind it, all thought of stealth

to turn and bring its fangs to bear, tilting the fearsome spines forward to cover as much of its body as it can. This is the wrong battle ground for you Lizard! You want to battle me here on the wall? With my incredible grip skill at level three, this wall is no challenge, also, I am nimble and light but you are

you want to face

first hunt! I cannot fail here or my life may be over, I have

Didn’t expect that

and hisses as acid continues to burn at its feet and now face. It won’t be finished from just this however, my acid is still weak, not strong

the wall, the Lizard trying to thrust forward with its fangs or spines before retreating and me snapping with my mandibles,

air against my antennae. I’ve seen more than one fight over the last few days settled by new challengers entering as the

beginning to breathe heavily, the energy required to support its body here on the wall while

lowering my body closer to the wall. To

Chance!

closed on the head of my foe.

you

for the final phase. I gather my strength, prepare my heart and then ...

gripped in my mandibles the Lizard begins to fall away from the wall as I sail over its head, scaly feet tipped with claws scrabble and